somejew > all gedolai poskim spent so much time and ink in writing the lengthy responsa that makes up the massive library of Shu”T we have since Chasimas haShas.
And that is why we have gedolei yisroel discuss whether R Kanevsky nodded or not and whether he was answering the right question. Things happen. There is a lot you can learn from responsa but also a lot from oral conversation. Gemora was completed several centuries after most opinions were expressed.